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Biomedical subjects

A Carli

Publications and source records attributed to A Carli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect of the aromatase inhibitor, 4 hydroxyandrostenedione, on the endotoxin-induced changes in steroid hormones in male rats.

The increase in circulating estrogen concentrations that follows injection of Escherichia coli endotoxin (Endo) may be due to increased aromatase activity. We have therefore analysed the effect of the aromatase inhibitor, 4 hydroxyandrostenedione (4OHA) on the steroid hormone response of male rats, particularly the dramatic increase in estrogens and decrease in androgens, induced by Endo. The concentrations of corticosterone (B), progesterone (P4), 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone (17 alpha OHP4), androstenedione (delta 4), testosterone (T), estrone (E1) and estradiol (E2) were determined 2 hours after injection of increasing doses of 4OHA with and without Endo. The increase in serum estrogen concentrations and drop in serum androgen levels in response to Endo were blocked by a single dose of 4OHA. The effect of 4OHA appeared to be dose dependent. Low doses (30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) induced significant changes in the estrogen and androgen responses, but the high dose (100 mg/kg) blocked all changes in sex steroids induced by Endo. 4OHA did not alter the Endo-induced changes in other steroids.

Analysis of Variance

[Postoperative morbidity and mortality after surgical intervention for gastric carcinoma in advanced stage].

The paper reports the authors' experience in a group of 546 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric cancer from 1981 to 1988. Of 437 patients (80%) with advanced gastric cancer, 121 (28%) received palliative treatment and 316 (72%) were treated for curative purposes. Postoperative care was normal in 331 patients with a mean hospital stay of 11 days; various complications occurred in 106 patients with a mean hospital stay of 26 days. Overall operative mortality was 6% (27 patients). This study aimed to assess the main factor responsible for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Findings were compared to previously reported data and were shown to be similar.

Adult

Relationship between changes in serum estrone levels and outcome in human males with septic shock.

The effect of septic shock on the production of estrogens, other steroid hormones, and gonadotropins in men was investigated. Two groups of male patients in the early septic shock were studied over 3 days following their admission to the Intensive Care Unit. Group I (n = 9) patients recovered and group II (n = 6) patients died. The simplified acute physiological score was 13.5 +/- 1.5 for group I and 21.2 +/- 2.3 for group II (P less than .05). In group I patients, estrogen levels (particularly E1) were high on day 1 and decreased progressively (day 1: 3,515 +/- 884 pmol/L, day 2: 2,450 +/- 292 pmol/L, and day 3: 1,043 +/- 255 pmol/L). In group II patients, estrone levels were as high as in group I on day 1, but increased throughout the 3 days (day 1: 3,250 +/- 1,200 pmol/L, day 2: 4,495 +/- 930 pmol/L, and day 3: 6,123 +/- 966 pmol/L). There were few changes in gonadotropins and other steroid hormones, except that the testosterone levels were below normal in both patient groups, while cortisol was elevated in group II. The changes in serum E1 may provide an accurate marker of individual outcome.

Aged

[Plankton from the Riva Trigoso Bay(Ligurian Sea): presence of various trace elements].

Between March and June 1989 zooplankton and sea-water samples were taken in three different areas of Riva Trigoso Bay (eastern Ligurian Sea) every two weeks. The analysis of eight trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, V, Zn) was conducted by means of a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (GFAAS). Biological material values resulted to be limited and quite homogeneous in all metal species thus with no apparent influence from sampling area or time. Observed concentrations (ng/g dry weight) ranged between 12 and 45 for Cd, 52 and 117 for Co, 30 and 71 for Cr, 428 and 1063 for Cu, 730 and 1440 for Fe, 265 and 512 for Ni, 361 and 510 for V, and 1403 and 2499 for Zn. Sea-water values confirmed the results of biological material thus testifying a particularly interesting environmental condition due to low contamination level detected in this part of the coast.

Animals

[Manual and mechanic anastomosis. Comparison in oncologic surgery of the colon and rectum].

Personal experience in the treatment of 60 cases of cancer of the large bowel with left hemicolon and rectal localisation is reported. 20 manual double layer anastomoses (group I), 20 single layer (group II) and with mechanical stapler (EEA stapler) (group III) were carried out in consecutive series. The results are reported in terms of early local and general complications: specifically 13 cases of anastomotic dehiscence of which 69.2% were observed in group I, 15.4% in group II and 15.4% in group III. Total postoperative mortality was 5%, average hospitalisation was as follows: 19 days group I, 14 days group II, 17 days group III. The value of single layer anastomoses, which is comparable to results with the stapler whose use is essential in cases of real manual technical difficulty, is stressed.

Adult

[Antropyloric preservation in pancreatic excisions].

The authors report 11 consecutive partial or total pancreatectomies with preservation of the pylorus. They believe this technique is to be preferred because it allows a better digestion and reduces complication rate.

Aged

Unexpected hyperactivity of myocardial adenylate cyclase system in endotoxic male rats.

Ventricle beta-adrenoceptors have been investigated and serum steroid levels determined in male rats injected intravenously with lipopolysaccharide from E. coli (LPS) under light anesthesia. Two series of doses were successively studied: 1) 2 and 3 mg.kg-1 and 2) 1 and 4 mg.kg-1, each including controls. The second series was carried out owing to the unexpected results of the first one. Homogeneity of the two series was tested. Experiments were performed at hr 4 after injection, a time previously tested to induce hormonal variations and release of a cardiodepressant factor (CDF) in serum. The results indicate that 2 mg.kg-1 LPS induced an increased activity of adenylate cyclase. The unexpectedly high response was dose-dependent since it was not found with the lowest or highest doses. The determination of serum steroid levels (progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, corticosterone, delta 4-androstenedione, testosterone, estrone, and estradiol) was used as a kind of marker of endotoxin activity. The results point out that the light anesthesia used for LPS injection delayed the hormonal response, when compared with results previously obtained with the same LPS dose (2 mg.kg-1) in unanesthetized rats. It can be inferred that the present data should usually appear at an earlier stage. It is suggested that an endotoxin-induced protein kinase C activation could be involved in the observed hyperactivity of adenylate cyclase and the hyperdynamic phase of septic shock.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone

[Biometrico-statistical evaluation of a biological sample].

The total animal population percentage composition, found during period May-August 1979 on tunny-fishing coco-fibres nets in Camogli (Genoa), has been valued in relation to the depth. In particular, connections between population and presence of some fish species draughted has been studied, considering ecological, reproductive and trophic habits of fishes, in order to value relations between the influence these populations exert on fishing and biological characteristics of the quantitatively more meaningful fish species.

Animals

[Percent composition of fatty acids in Tigriopus fulvus from rocky pools on the Ligurian coast (Copepoda harpacticoida)].

The study concerns the Tigriopus fulvus specimens fatty acid composition, sampled in Ligurian coast rockpools from September 1980 to June 1981. By the study of frequency distribution it was observed that the fatty acid found in greater quantity was the palmitic one, followed by the palmitoleic, the oleic and stearic acids. Short and long chain fatty acids are less frequent. Investigation about each fatty acid concentration shows that the seasonal trends between males and females are different and the trend of some fatty acids (e.g. linolenic and stearic acid) is characteristic.

Animals

[Reduction of isoprenaline induced tachycardia in pregnant rats. Role of a serum factor].

The in vivo isoprenaline (50 microgram/kg) induced tachycardia (beta 1 adrenergic stimulant effect) was decreased in pregnant (20th day) Rats compared to non pregnant Rats. The in vitro positive chronotropic effect of isoprenaline (10 ng/ml) on cultured Rat heart cells was abolished by pregnant Rat serum whereas progesterone (0.10 to 5 microgram/ml) or oestradiol (0.1 to 25 microgram/ml) were ineffective. The decreased beta 1 adrenergic responsiveness in pregnant Rats could be related to a seric factor, different from these two hormones.

Animals

[Biological determination of the beta blocking activity of human serum].

A method of biological assessment of the Beta blocking activity of human serum is reported. It is based on the catecholamine response of rat myocardial cells in culture, incubated in the serum to be tested. Its advantage is that it takes into account all block-blocking substances present in the serum, not only the drug itself but also its possible active metabolites. The results obtained by this method in 10 healthy subjects after 60 mg penbutolol were compared with those given by chemical dosage and ergometry. The ergometric and biological changes were parallel from the 2nd and the 8th hour while the serum levels of the drug rapidly. This discordance could be due to the presence of an active metabolite, 4-hydroxy-penbutolol.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Reversal by calcium of rat heart cell dysfunction induced by human sera in septic shock.

Twenty human sera obtained during the first 24 hours following clinical onset of different septic shocks were evaluated for their effects on electric an mechanical activities of rat heart cell cultures. Possible antagonistic action of calcium was tested on these effects. The results showed that septic shock sera, when compared to normal sera, increased action potential duration and depressed contractility of beating cardiac cells. Addition of calcium reversed these two actions, though markedly higher concentration was needed for depressed contractility. The in vitro deleterious effects of septic shock sera on cell cultures were related neither to decrease in extracellular calcium, since total calcium level was moderately below normal values, nor to inhibition of low calcium channel, since the action potential was not suppressed in presence of K+ excess. This study suggests the involvement of humoral factors mimicking the cardiac effects of low calcium concentration. If calcium is involved in in vitro cardiac dysfunction, it could result only from a decrease of available calcium in cytosol.

Action Potentials